Wiper blade with an adapter unit for attachment to a wiper arm

ABSTRACT

In a wiper blade ( 100 ) for a windshield wiper having a wiping strip ( 112 ) and an adapter unit ( 1500 ) for attaching the wiper strip ( 112 ) to a wiper arm, the adapter unit ( 1500 ) being designed to be connected to a connecting element ( 1900 ) assigned to the wiper arm, the connecting element ( 1900 ) has a base element ( 1730 ) and an adapter element ( 1750 ), wherein the base element ( 1730 ) is designed to attach the wiping strip ( 112 ) to a first multiplicity of different wiper arm types and can be connected to the adapter element ( 1750 ) in order to permit the wiping strip ( 112 ) to be attached to a second multiplicity of different wiper arm types which at least partly differ from the wiper arm types of the first multiplicity of wiper arm types.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wiper blade for a window wiper, witha wiper strip and an adapter unit for attachment of the wiper strip to awiper arm, wherein the adapter unit is designed for connection to aconnecting member assigned to the wiper arm.

WO 2008/145481 A1 describes a wiper blade of this type, in which anadapter unit is provided for attachment of the wiper strip to a wiperarm. Said adapter unit is designed for connection to a multiplicity ofdifferent connecting members which can be connected to different wiperarm types.

A disadvantage of the prior art is that there is a multiplicity ofdifferent wiper arm types and therefore a multiplicity of differentconnecting members is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a novel wiperblade for a window wiper, which wiper blade can be attached to amultiplicity of different wiper arm types in a simple manner.

This problem is solved by a wiper blade for a window wiper, with a wiperstrip and an adapter unit for attachment of the wiper strip to a wiperarm. The adapter unit is designed for connection to a connecting memberassigned to the wiper arm. The connecting member has a base element andan adapter element. The base element is designed for attachment of thewiper strip to a first multiplicity of different wiper arm types and canbe connected to the adapter element in order to permit attachment of thewiper strip to a second multiplicity of different wiper arm types whichat least partially differ from the wiper arm types of the firstmultiplicity of wiper arm types.

The invention therefore permits the provision of a wiper blade which canbe attached to a multiplicity of different wiper arm types in a simplemanner.

The adapter element is preferably designed to engage around at leastpart of the base element in the manner of a cap.

An uncomplicated and cost-effective adapter element can therefore beprovided.

The connecting member preferably has a cover member with which theadapter element can be fixed on the base element.

The adapter element can therefore be fastened to the base element in asimple manner.

According to an embodiment, the cover member is designed for fixing aplurality of different wiper arm types to the connecting member.

The invention therefore permits secure and reliable fixing of differentwiper arm types to the wiper blade.

The cover member can preferably be mounted rotatably on the baseelement.

The cover member can therefore be arranged on the connecting member in asimple manner.

The cover member can preferably be latched to the base element.

The cover member can therefore be fastened to the base element simplyand securely.

According to an embodiment, the adapter unit has a bearing element onwhich the connecting member can be mounted.

The adapter unit can therefore be connected to the connecting member ina simple manner.

The connecting member preferably has positioning aids for positioning onthe bearing element.

Rapid and correct positioning of the connecting member on the adapterunit can therefore be achieved.

According to an embodiment, the adapter unit has a guide and positioningmember for aligning the connecting member on the adapter unit.

The invention therefore permits simple and precise installation of theconnecting member on the adapter unit.

The guide and positioning member is preferably designed in the manner ofa tower, and the connecting member preferably has an aperture for thepassage of the tower-like guide and positioning member.

An uncomplicated and cost-effective guide and positioning member cantherefore be provided.

The adapter unit can preferably be fastened permanently to a baseconnecting device provided on the wiper strip.

A secure and reliable connection between the adapter unit and the wiperstrip can therefore be made possible.

The problem mentioned at the beginning is also solved by a connectingmember for attachment of a wiper arm to a wiper blade for a windowwiper.

The wiper blade has a wiper strip and an adapter unit for connection ofthe wiper strip to the connecting member. The connecting member has abase element and an adapter element, wherein the base element isdesigned for attachment of the wiper strip to a first multiplicity ofdifferent wiper arm types. The base element can be connected to theadapter element in order to permit attachment of the wiper strip to asecond multiplicity of different wiper arm types which at leastpartially differ from the wiper arm types of the first multiplicity ofwiper arm types.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail in the description below withreference to exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a wiper blade, with a wiper strip, to whicha base connecting device is fastened, and with an adapter unit which isfastened to the latter and is fastened to a connecting member assignedto a wiper arm, according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a detail II of the wiper blade fromFIG. 1 in the fitted state, according to an embodiment,

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the wiper blade detail from FIG. 2,with the wiper strip provided with the base connecting device and withthe adapter unit provided with a guide and a function adapter, accordingto a first embodiment, in the unfitted state,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a lower side of the guide adapterfrom FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a perspective, partially transparent view of the functionadapter from FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the wiper blade detail from FIG. 2during installation of the adapter unit from FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the connecting member from FIG. 1according to the first embodiment,

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the wiper blade detail from FIG. 2during installation of the connecting member from FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the wiper blade detail from FIG. 2with the connecting member from FIG. 7 in the fitted state,

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the connecting member from FIG. 7during attachment to a first wiper arm type,

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the connecting member from FIG. 7during attachment to a second wiper arm type,

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the connecting member from FIG. 7during attachment to a third wiper arm type,

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the connecting member from FIG. 7during attachment to a fourth wiper arm type,

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a detail II of the wiper blade fromFIG. 1, with the wiper strip provided with the base connecting device,and with an adapter unit and a connecting member according to a secondembodiment, in the unfitted state,

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the wiper blade detail from FIG. 14during installation of the connecting member,

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the wiper blade detail from FIG. 15with the connecting member during attachment to a first wiper arm type,

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the wiper blade detail from FIG. 15with the connecting member during attachment to a second wiper arm type,

FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of the wiper blade detail from FIG. 15with the connecting member during attachment to a third wiper arm type,

FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of the wiper blade detail from FIG. 15with the connecting member during attachment to a fourth wiper arm type,and

FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of the wiper blade detail from FIG. 15with the connecting member during attachment to a fifth wiper arm type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a wiper blade 100 with a wiper strip 112 which has a wiperlip 129 connected to a back strip 124 via a tilting web 127. A spoiler125 is provided on the back strip 124. A base connecting device 160, towhich an adapter unit 150 for the connection of a connecting member 190assigned to a wiper arm 118 is fastened, is provided on the wiper strip112. In FIG. 1, the connecting member 190 is connected to the adapterunit 150, for example, via a hinge pin 169. With the aid of the wiperarm 118, the wiper blade 100 can be guided over a window 122(illustrated by a chain-dotted line), for example a motor vehiclewindow, for wiping purposes.

According to an embodiment, the wiper blade 100 is a flat-barconstruction, i.e. the wiper strip 112 has lateral longitudinal groovesin which two supporting rails, preferably spring rails, are arranged. Asan alternative thereto, the wiper strip 112 can be designed as a hollowprofile with an approximately central longitudinal channel in which anindividual supporting rail is arranged. The wiper strip 112 with thebase connecting device 160 provided thereon is preferably of hinge-freedesign, the base connecting device 160 preferably being preassembled onthe wiper strip 112.

In FIG. 1, the wiper blade 100 has not yet been completely placed ontothe window 122; only the axial wiper blade ends 121, 123 of said wiperblade bear against the window 122 while the wiper strip 112 is stillspaced apart from the window 122 in the wiper blade center 126, i.e.approximately in the region of the adapter unit 150. If a designatedcontact pressure is exerted on the connecting member 190 and thereforethe adapter unit 150 via the wiper arm 118, the wiper strip 112 isplaced against the window 122. This results in a uniform contactpressure over the entire length of the wiper blade even if the curvatureof the window changes over the course of the wiping movement.

FIG. 2 shows a detail, which is identified by II in FIG. 1, of the wiperblade 100 with the wiper strip 112 and the adapter unit 150 in thefitted state according to an embodiment. The adapter unit 150 has aguide adapter 250 and a function adapter 280.

In the illustration, the guide adapter 250 is fastened permanently tothe base connecting device 160 from FIG. 1. Within the context of thepresent invention, “permanently” is to be understood as meaning thatmeans for releasing the guide adapter 250 from the base connectingdevice 160 are not provided, and therefore release without using forceis preferably impossible. However, it is pointed out that,alternatively, a releasable connection between the guide adapter 250 andbase connecting device 160 from FIG. 1 may be used, for example alatching connection via suitable latching and mating latching means.

A receiving groove 242 for receiving a first end region 212 of thespoiler 125 is formed at least in regions at an axial end region (shownon the left in FIG. 2) of the guide adapter 250. An actuable latchingelement 252 is formed at the axial end region (shown on the right inFIG. 2) of said guide adapter.

In the illustration, the function adapter 280 has a bearing element 279on which the connecting member 190 from FIG. 1 can be mounted. Thebearing element 279 has, by way of example, a circular aperture 277through which, for example, the hinge pin 169 from FIG. 1 can be passed.However, it is pointed out that the bearing element 279 with theaperture 277 is depicted in FIG. 2 merely by way of example and not torestrict the invention. On the contrary, the bearing element 279 mayhave a multiplicity of different configurations which may be dependent,for example, on a configuration of the connecting member 190 from FIG.1, as described by way of example for FIG. 7.

A cutout 292 for at least partially receiving the latching element 252is provided on the axial end region (shown on the right in FIG. 2) ofthe function adapter 280. According to an embodiment, the functionadapter 280 is connected releasably to the guide adapter 250, asdescribed in detail below for FIG. 6. Furthermore, at least in regionsof said end region there is a receiving groove 244 for receiving asecond end region 214 of the spoiler 125.

FIG. 3 shows the wiper blade detail from FIG. 2 with the wiper strip 112and the base connecting device 160 fastened to the latter, and with theadapter unit 150, in the unfitted state. FIG. 3 shows clearly those endregions 212, 214 of the spoiler 125 which face the base connectingdevice 160.

The base connecting device 160 consists by way of example of a firstconnecting rail 361 and a second connecting rail 363. The connectingrails 361, 363 engage around at least part of the back strip 124 of thewiper strip 112, which back strip is connected to the wiper lip 129, andare preferably anchored, for example permanently latched, fixedly toeach other and therefore to the back strip 124. For the permanentlatching, the rails 361, 363 preferably have suitable latching andmating latching means. However, it is pointed out that the anchoring ofthe rails 361, 363 to each other can also be achieved by otherequivalent means, for example by snap-in or clamping connections. Thepresent invention is therefore not limited to the use of latching andmating latching means.

In order to permanently fasten the guide adapter 250 to the baseconnecting device 160, a plurality of shoulder-shaped retainingindentations 362, 364, 366, 368 are provided thereon. Column-likeprojections 392, 398 are formed in the axial end regions of the baseconnecting device 160 and, for example, two pin-shaped projections 394,396 are provided in the central region of said base connecting device.Said projections 392, 394, 396, 398 serve as positioning elements inorder to enable precise alignment and installation of the guide adapter250, as described below for FIG. 6. Furthermore, at least thepositioning elements 394, 396 have, for example, according to anembodiment, pin-like extensions which are formed in the direction of thewiper strip 112 and can be fixed to the wiper strip 112 during thefastening of the base connecting device 160 in order therefore toprevent the device 160 from slipping on the wiper strip 112. Theextensions here may be pressed, for example in the manner of nails, intothe wiper strip or may be anchored there by displacement of the rubbermaterial of the wiper strip 112.

The adapter unit 150 with the guide adapter 250 and the function adapter280, the upper sides 387 and 399, respectively, of which are shown inFIG. 3, is produced, for example, from plastic. The guide adapter 250 isdesigned by way of example in the manner of an upside down U profile andhas a platform-like base element 339, on which two lateral wall elements337, 338 are formed. Furthermore, the latching element 252, which has,for example, a resilient latching tongue 305 with a latching cam 307, isformed on the platform 339 in the manner of a tail. Guide elements 352,354 and 356, 358, which are designed to be at least partiallythree-dimensionally curved, are provided on the wall elements 337, 338,respectively. Said guide elements are preferably inclineddiscontinuously and, in the illustration, are at least partially ofelongated S-shaped design. The guide elements 352, 354, 356, 358 areprovided with associated blocking members 372, 374, 376, 378, thefunction of which is described below for FIG. 6. For the permanentfastening of the guide adapter 250 to the base connecting device 160,retaining arms 322, 324 and 326, 328 (FIG. 4) are provided on the wallelements 337, 338, respectively.

The function adapter 280 is designed by way of example in the manner ofa sled and has a support element 336, on which two lateral, runner-likewall elements 334, 335 are provided. Sliding elements 382, 384 (FIGS. 5)and 386, 388 (FIG. 5) are formed on said runner-like wall elements 334,335, respectively. Said sliding elements are preferably formed with asubstantially identical shaping to the guide elements 352, 354, 356,358. Accordingly, the sliding elements 382, 386 and 384, 388 (FIG. 5)are at least partially three-dimensionally curved, are preferablyinclined discontinuously and are preferably at least partially ofelongated S-shaped design.

FIG. 4 shows the lower side 499 of the guide adapter 250. FIG. 4 showsclearly the three-dimensional curved configuration of the guide elements356, 358, the associated stop members 376 and 378, respectively, thelongitudinal groove 242 and the retaining arms 322, 324, 326, 328.

In the illustration, pocket-like receiving elements 412, 414, 416, 418are formed on the lower side 499 of the guide adapter 250. Saidreceiving elements serve to receive the projections 392, 394, 396 and398 formed on the base connecting device 160 from FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows the function adapter 280 from FIG. 3 with the longitudinalgroove 244, the cutout 292, the bearing element 279 and the slidingelements 382, 384, 386, 388. As described above, the latter are at leastpartially of three-dimensionally curved design and, in the illustrationhere, are at least partially in the shape of an elongated S.

The sliding elements 382, 384, 386, 388 have, for example, assigned stopmembers 582, 584, 586 and 588, respectively. The latter interact withthe blocking members 372, 374, 376, 378 (FIG. 4) of the guide adapter250 from FIG. 4 in order at least to limit a displacement of thefunction adapter 280 relative to the guide adapter 250 from FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows the wiper blade detail from FIGS. 2 and 3 duringinstallation of the adapter unit 150 on the base connecting device 160.For this purpose, in a first step, the guide adapter 250 is pressed orpushed in the direction of an arrow 699 onto the device 160. Theretaining arms 322, 324, 326, 328 (FIG. 4) of the guide adapter 250 areinitially elastically deformed in the process from an initial shapeuntil said retaining arms engage in the associated retainingindentations 362, 364, 366, 368 (FIG. 3) of the base connecting device160. They resume their initial shape there and are therefore interlockedin the retaining indentations 362, 364, 366, 368 (FIG. 3), thusproducing a permanent snap-in connection between the guide adapter 250and the base connecting device 160. At the same time, the projections392, 394, 396, 398 (FIG. 3) of the base connecting device 160 engage inthe pocket-like receiving elements 412, 414, 416, 418 (FIG. 4) of theguide adapter 250 such that the latter is aligned in a slip-free andprecise manner on the base connecting device 160. Furthermore, the endregion 212 of the spoiler 125 is now received in the longitudinal groove242 of the guide adapter 250 while the end region 214 of said spoiler isstill exposed.

In a second step, the function adapter 280 is positioned in thedirection of the arrow 699 on the guide adapter 250 in such a mannerthat the sliding elements 382, 384, 386, 388 (FIG. 5) are arranged inthe region of the guide elements 352, 354, 356, 358 (FIG. 4). Thefunction adapter 280 is then moved in the direction of arrows 610, 620relative to the guide adapter 250 by a combined translational androtational movement in such a manner that the sliding elements 382, 384,386, 388 (FIG. 5) are displaced in a manner sliding along the guideelements 352, 354, 356, 358. The function adapter 280 is displaced inthe process in the manner of a sled from a release position, which isillustrated in FIG. 6, into a retaining position, which is illustratedin FIG. 2 and in which the stop members 382, 384, 386, 388 (FIG. 5) ofthe function adapter 280 are blocked by the blocking members 372, 374,376, 378 (FIG. 4) of the guide adapter 250.

During the displacement of the function adapter 280 from the releaseposition into the retaining position, the actuable latching element 252is initially deformed elastically in the direction of an arrow 652. Inthe process, by the function adapter 280 pressing against the latchingcam 307, the latching tongue 305 is deflected resiliently in thedirection of the arrow 652 from an initial position. When the retainingposition of the function adapter 280 is reached, the latching tongue 305springs back again into the initial position thereof, i.e. in theopposite direction to the arrow 652, and the latching cam 307 reachesthrough the cutout 292 in the function adapter 280 and latchesreleasably there, as shown in FIG. 2. The latching cam 307 now preventsa reversing movement of the function adapter 280 in the direction of thearrows 610, 620. Furthermore, the end region 214 of the spoiler 125 isnow held in the longitudinal groove 244 of the function adapter 280.

As described above for FIG. 2, the latching element 252 of the guideadapter 250 is latched releasably to the function adapter 280. Saidreleasable latching can be released by actuation of the latching element252. For this purpose, the latching cam 307 has to be pressed out of thecutout 292 in the direction of the arrow 652 in order to permit asliding displacement of the function adapter 280 relative to the guideadapter 250 along the arrows 610, 620 from the retaining position intothe release position.

FIG. 7 shows the function adapter 280 from FIGS. 2 and 3 with a bearingelement 279, which is designed by way of example, for connection to theconnecting member 190, which is designed according to a firstembodiment, from FIG. 1. In FIG. 7, the bearing element 279 has at leasttwo wall elements 712, 714 aligned parallel to each other for at leastpartially laterally supporting the connecting member 190. The wallelements 712, 714 are provided with, for example, circular openings 722,724, between which a pocket-like recess 799, which is provided on thesupport element 336, is formed.

The connecting member 190 has, by way of example, a base element 730which can be mounted on the function adapter 280 and can be connected toa cover member 740 and an adapter element 750. The base element 730 canbe fastened to the function adapter 280 preferably via a snap-inconnection and is therefore also referred to below as the “fasteningmember”. According to an embodiment, the fastening member 730, the covermember 740 and the adapter element 750 are produced from plastic, forexample by plastics injection molding. However, other production methodsand materials or combinations of materials may also be used.

The fastening member 730 is designed by way of example for attachment toa first multiplicity of different wiper arm types, as described belowfor FIGS. 10 and 11. The adapter element 750 is designed by way ofexample for attachment to a second multiplicity of different wiper armtypes which differ from the wiper arm types of the first multiplicity ofwiper arm types, as described below for FIGS. 12 and 13. The covermember 740 is designed by way of example for fixing different wiper armtypes to the fastening member 730 or to the adapter element 750.

According to an embodiment, a bearing member 798 having a shaping, whichcorresponds, by way of example, to the shaping of the pocket-like recess799, is provided on a lower side 711 of the fastening member 730. Thebearing member 798 has a shaft 738 which is designed for receiving inthe circular openings 722, 724. As an alternative thereto, instead of acontinuous shaft 738, it is also possible for two pin-shaped orcylindrical lateral projections to be formed on the fastening member730. Lateral blocking elements, of which only the blocking element 785is visible in FIG. 7, are formed on an axial end region of the bearingmember 798.

The bearing member 798 is integrally formed on a support block 739,which is at least partially designed as a hollow profile and has acavity 735 which has a passage opening or bore 736 and a preferably flatupper side 713. Lateral blocking elements 733 and 793 (FIG. 8) areformed on that axial end region of the support block 739 which is on theright in FIG. 7, said blocking elements being integrally formed on thesupport block 739, for example, via a T-shaped elongation 716. Lateralconnecting elements 717, 719, which are L-shaped, for example, areintegrally formed on that axial end region of the support block 739which is on the left in FIG. 7. Said connecting elements respectivelyhave a circular opening 732 and 734 and a pin-like projection 731 and737 for connection to the cover member 740.

The cover member 740 is designed by way of example in the manner of acuboidal hood, with an upper wall element 748 and side walls 741, 743which are connected to each other via a terminating wall 789. The sides747 and 788, which are opposite the upper wall element 748 and theterminating wall 789, are open. An opening 745 is provided in the upperwall element 748. Openings 742 and 744 (FIG. 8) for receiving theprojections 737 and 731 during fastening of the cover member 740 to thefastening member 730 are provided in the side walls 741, 743,respectively. Those end regions 749 of the side walls 741, 743 whichface the open side 788 are shaped concavely in the illustration.According to an embodiment, the cover member 740 is designed for fixingthe adapter element 750 to the fastening member 730.

The adapter element 750 is designed by way of example as a hollow orU-profile with a top element 715, on which two lateral wall elements752, 754 are integrally formed, on which, in turn, respective retainingwebs 758 and 756 are provided. The top element 715 is provided with alongitudinal groove 753 and a transverse groove 751. The wall elements752, 754 have preferably circular openings, of which only the opening755 provided in the wall element 752 can be seen in FIG. 7. According toan embodiment, the wall elements 752, 754 are shaped convexly on theirend regions 759, which, following installation on the fastening member730, face the cover member 740, in such a manner that said end regions759 and the end regions 749 of the side walls 741, 743 of the covermember 740 intermesh in a form-fitting manner. Furthermore, the endregions 759 of the wall elements 752, 754 protrude relative to an endregion 757 of the top element 715 such that, after the installation, aclearance (1210 in FIG. 12) is formed between the top element 715 andthe upper wall element 748 of the cover member 740.

FIG. 8 shows the wiper blade detail from FIG. 2 during the installationof the connecting member 190 from FIG. 7 on the function adapter 280,which is connected releasably to the guide adapter 250 from FIG. 2,according to the configuration shown in FIG. 7. In this case, thefastening member 730 is initially fastened to the function adapter 280,for example, by a snap-in connection. For this purpose, the fasteningmember 730 is pushed onto the function adapter 280 in the direction ofan arrow 810, wherein the wall elements 714 and 712 thereof (FIG. 7) areelastically deformed laterally outward from an initial position untilthe bearing member 798 (FIG. 7) is arranged in the pocket-like recess799 (FIG. 7) of the function adapter 280 and the shaft 738 is arrangedin the region of the openings 724 and 722 (FIG. 7). The wall elements712, 714 now move back into the initial position thereof such that theaxial ends of the shaft 738 are received in the openings 722, 724 andtherefore a snap-in connection is produced between the fastening member730 and function adapter 280, in which lateral slipping of the fasteningmember 730 is prevented by the wall elements 712, 714.

In a next step, the cover member 740 can be fastened rotatably to thefastening member 730, preferably via a snap-in connection. For thispurpose, the cover member 740 is pushed, for example, in the directionof the arrow 810 onto the connecting elements 717, 719 of said fasteningmember, the connecting elements moving elastically toward each other inthe process from an initial position until pin-shaped shaft elements,which are formed on the side walls 741, 743 of the cover member 740 andof which only the shaft element 746 which is formed on the side wall 743is visible in FIG. 8, engage in the openings 732, 734 provided on thefastening member 730.

In a further step, the adapter element 750 can now be pushed, forexample in the direction of the arrow 810, onto the fastening member730. This is described below for FIG. 12.

FIG. 9 shows the arrangement from FIG. 8 without the adapter element750, in which arrangement the cover member 740 is latched releasably tothe fastening member 730 by means of the projections 737 and 731 (FIG.8) engaging in the openings 742, 744, respectively, (FIG. 8), preferablyby means of a snap-in connection. For this purpose, in order to producethe snap-in connection, the cover member 740 is rotated from theposition thereof which is shown in FIG. 8 in the direction of an arrow910 toward the fastening member 730 in order to latch there.

FIG. 10 shows an arrangement 1000 in which, by way of example, a wiperarm 1018, representing the wiper arm 118 from FIG. 1, of the “Top-Lock2”wiper arm type is attached to the fastening member 730, which isconnected to the cover member 740. In the illustration, the wiper arm1018 has retaining rails 1022, 1024 directed inward. In order tosimplify the illustration, only the wiper arm 1018, the fastening member730 and the cover member 740 are shown in FIG. 10.

The wiper arm 1018 is pushed in the direction of arrows 1052, 1054 ontothe fastening member 730 until the lateral blocking elements 785 thereofblock the retaining rails 1022, 1024 of the wiper arm 1018 and thereforeprevent further displacement of the wiper arm 1018 in the direction ofthe arrows 1052, 1054. Then, as described for FIG. 9, the cover member740 is rotated in the direction of an arrow 1099 toward the fasteningmember 730 in order to latch there. In this case, a form-fittingconnection between the concave end regions 749 of the side walls 741,743 of the cover member 740 and correspondingly convexly shaped endregions 1012 of the wiper arm 1018 is preferably produced, and thereforethe wiper arm 1018 is prevented from slipping in the opposite directionto the arrows 1052, 1054, i.e. in the direction of an arrow 1097.

FIG. 11 shows an arrangement 1100, in which, by way of example, a wiperarm 1118, representing the wiper arm 118 from FIG. 1, of the “ValeoTop-Lock2” wiper arm type is attached to the fastening member 730, whichis connected to the cover member 740. In the illustration, the wiper arm1118 has an elongate connecting component 1111 on which a retainingtongue 1112 having an opening 1114, and lateral retaining shoulders 1116and 1117 are integrally formed. To simplify the illustration, FIG. 11likewise only shows the wiper arm 1118, the fastening member 730 and thecover member 740.

The wiper arm 1118 is pushed in the direction of arrows 1152, 1154 ontothe fastening member 730 until the lateral blocking elements 733, 793thereof block the retaining shoulders 1116, 1117 of the wiper arm 1118and therefore prevent further displacement of the wiper arm 1118 in thedirection of the arrows 1152, 1154. Then, as described for FIG. 9, thecover member 740 is rotated in the direction of an arrow 1199 toward thefastening member 730 in order to latch there. A form-fitting connectionbetween the concave end regions 749 of the side walls 741, 743 of thecover member 740 and corresponding end regions 1115 of the wiper arm1118 is preferably produced in this case, and therefore the wiper arm1118 is prevented from slipping in a direction opposite to the arrows1152, 1154, i.e. in the direction of an arrow 1197.

FIG. 12 shows an arrangement 1200, in which, by way of example, a wiperarm 1218, representing the wiper arm 118 from FIG. 1, of the“Side-Lock1” wiper arm type is attached to the fastening member 730,which is connected to the cover member 740 and to which the adapterelement 750 is fastened. To simplify the illustration, FIG. 12 showsonly the wiper arm 1218, the fastening member 730, the cover member 740and the adapter element 750.

For the fastening to the fastening member 730, the adapter element 750is pushed onto the latter, for example in the direction of the arrow 810from FIG. 8, thus producing a snap-in connection between saidcomponents, in which the adapter element 750 engages around at leastpart of the fastening member 730 in the manner of a cap and/or claw.Said snap-in connection is brought about by the retaining webs 758, 756(FIG. 7), which are provided on the adapter element 750, reaching underthe support block 739 of the fastening member 730 and being preventedthere, preferably by the lateral blocking elements 785 of said supportblock (FIG. 7), from being displaced axially to the right—in FIG. 12. Anaxial displacement of the adapter element 750 to the left—in FIG. 12—isprevented by the latched cover member 740, as described for FIG. 9,since the concave end regions 749 of the side walls 741, 743 thereofbear in a form-fitting manner against the convex end regions 759 of theadapter element 750.

In the illustration, the wiper arm 1218 has a rotary shaft 1212 and aretaining bracket 1214 and is pushed in the direction of an arrow 1251onto the connecting member 190 in such a manner that the rotary shaft1212 is passed through the openings 755, 736 (FIG. 7) in the adapterelement 750 and in the fastening member 730, respectively, as indicatedby a chain-dotted arrow 1252. The retaining bracket 1214 in FIG. 12 ispositioned in the process above the adapter element 750.

The wiper arm 1218 is then rotated in the direction of an arrow 1299toward the connecting member 190 such that the retaining bracket 1214 isreceived in the transverse groove 751 of the adapter element 750. In theprocess, a retaining hook 1244 provided on the retaining bracket 1214—inFIG. 12—reaches behind the lateral wall element 754 of the adapterholder 750 while the wiper arm 1218 bears against the lateral wallelement 752, thus preventing the rotary shaft 1212 from slipping out ofthe connecting member 190.

FIG. 13 shows an arrangement 1300, in which, by way of example, a wiperarm 1318, representing the wiper arm 118 from FIG. 1, of the “9×3 hook”or “9×4 hook” wiper arm type is attached to the fastening member 730,which is connected to the cover member 740 and to which the adapterelement 750 is fastened, as described for FIG. 12. To simplify theillustration, FIG. 13 only shows the wiper arm 1318, the fasteningmember 730, the cover member 740 and the adapter element 750.

In the illustration, the wiper arm 1318 is of hook-shaped design and hasan elongate connecting component 1316 on which a hook 1312 is integrallyformed via a curved element 1314. For the fastening to the connectingmember 190, the wiper arm 1318 is positioned on the latter in thedirection of an arrow 1351 in such a manner that the elongate connectingcomponent 1316 is arranged in the longitudinal groove 753 and the curvedelement 1314 with the hook 1312 engages into at least part of the covermember 740 via the open side 788 of said cover member 740. The wiper arm1318 is then displaced in the direction of an arrow 1352 such that thehook 1312 is introduced into the cavity 735 of the support block 739 ofthe fastening member 730 until the curved element 1314 bears against theend region 757 of the top element 715 of said fastening member.

The cover member 740 is then rotated, as described for FIG. 9, in thedirection of an arrow 1399 toward the fastening member 730 in order tolatch there. The curved element 1314 is therefore blocked in theclearance 1210, thus preventing the wiper arm 1318 from slipping out ina direction opposite to the arrow 1352.

FIG. 14 shows a detail of the wiper blade 100 from FIG. 1 with anadapter unit 1500 and a connecting member 1900 according to a furtherembodiment. The adapter unit 1500 is preferably designed for permanentlyfastening to the base connecting device 160, which is connected to thewiper strip 112. The wiper strip 112 and the base connecting device 160are constructed as described above for FIGS. 1 to 3, and therefore, inorder to keep the description concise, a repeated description is omittedhere.

In contrast to the adapter unit 150 described for FIGS. 2 to 13, theadapter unit 1500 is preferably formed as a single piece and, forexample, from plastic. However, it is pointed out that other materialsmay also be used. The adapter unit 1500 is configured, by way ofexample, with a shaping in the manner of a submarine and has a topelement 1539, on which two lateral wall elements 1537, 1538 areintegrally formed. To permanently fasten the adapter unit 1500 to thebase connecting device 160, the lower side 1550 of said adapter unit andthe mutually facing insides of the lateral wall elements 1537, 1538 aredesigned, for example, in the manner of the respective lower side 499and the wall elements 337, 338 of the guide adapter 250 from FIGS. 3 and4. Accordingly, according to an embodiment, retaining arms are providedon the wall elements 1537, 1538, said retaining arms corresponding tothe retaining arms 322, 324, 326, 328 from FIGS. 3 and 4, andpocket-like receiving elements, which correspond to the receivingelements 412, 414, 416, 418 from FIG. 4, are formed on the lower side1550.

However, it is pointed out that other types of fastening for permanentlyfastening the adapter unit 1500 to the base connecting device 160 arealso possible. For example, latching hooks can be provided on the lowerside 1550 of the adapter unit 1500, which latching hooks can be latchedto latching lugs 1410, 1420, 1412, 1422, which, in the illustration, areformed on the base connecting device 160.

By way of example, a bearing element 1598, on which the connectingmember 1900 can be mounted, is formed on the top element 1539 of theadapter unit 1550. The bearing element 1598 has, by way of example, apocket-like bearing receptacle 1599. However, it is pointed out that thebearing element 1598 with the receptacle 1599 is merely depicted by wayof example in FIG. 14 and not to restrict the invention. On thecontrary, the bearing element 1598 may have a multiplicity of differentconfigurations which may be dependent on a configuration of theconnecting member 1900. For example, the bearing element 1598 can bedesigned in the manner of the bearing element 279 from FIG. 2.

A receiving groove 1542 for receiving a first end region 212 of thespoiler 125 of the wiper blade 100 is formed at least in regions of anaxial end region of the adapter unit 1500, which end region is shown onthe left in FIG. 14. A receiving groove 1544 for receiving a second endregion 214 of the spoiler 125 is formed at least in regions of the axialend region of said adapter unit which is shown on the right in FIG. 2.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, a tower-like guide andpositioning member 1510 for the simplified alignment of the connectingmember 1900 on the adapter unit 1500 is formed on the top element 1539,said guide and positioning member having two wall elements 1514, 1518which are connected to each other via a terminating wall 1516 and asupport part 1515. The support part 1515 can cover only part of theguide and positioning member 1510, as shown in FIG. 14, or else cancover the latter completely. A side surface 1512 of the guide andpositioning member 1510, which side surface is opposite the terminatingwall 1516, is open.

The connecting member 1900 has, by way of example, a base element 1730which can be mounted on the adapter unit 1500 and can be connected to acover member 1740 and to an adapter element 1750. The base element 1730can be fastened to the adapter unit 1500, preferably via a snap-inconnection, and is therefore also referred to below as the “fasteningmember”. According to an embodiment, the fastening member 1730, thecover member 1740 and the adapter element 1750 are produced fromplastic, for example by plastic injection molding. However, otherproduction methods and materials and combinations of materials may alsobe used.

The fastening member 1730 is designed, by way of example, for attachmentto a first multiplicity of different wiper arm types, as described belowfor FIGS. 16 to 18. The adapter element 1750 is designed, by way ofexample, for attachment to a second multiplicity of different wiper armtypes which at least partially differ from the wiper arm types of thefirst multiplicity of wiper arm types, as described below for FIGS. 18to 20. The cover member 1740 is designed, by way of example, for fixingdifferent wiper arm types to the fastening member 1730 or to the adapterelement 1750.

According to an embodiment, a bearing member 1798 with a shaping, whichcorresponds, for example, to the shaping of the pocket-like bearingreceptacle 1599, is provided on a lower side 1710 of the fasteningmember 1730 in order, for example, to permit the production of thesnap-in connection between said components. The bearing member 1798 hasa shaft 1724 which is preferably designed for latching in the bearingreceptacle 1599 and can have one or more, for example, wall-likepositioning aids 1722. As an alternative thereto, instead of acontinuous shaft 1724, two pin-shaped or cylindrical, lateralprojections may also be formed on the fastening member 1730.

By way of example, wall elements 1726, 1728, which are provided withcircular openings 1736 and 1738, respectively, are integrally formed onthe bearing member 1798. Between the wall elements 1726, 1728, anaperture 1710 is formed in the bearing member 1798, the dimensions ofwhich aperture correspond to the dimensions of the tower-like guide andpositioning member 1510 so that the latter can be passed through theaperture 1710.

Lateral blocking members 1733 and 1793 (FIGS. 16 to 20) and anillustrated positioning pin or knob 1727, and also lateral blockingmembers 1785 and 1786 (FIG. 17) are formed on that axial end region ofthe wall elements 1726, 1728, respectively, which is on the right inFIG. 14. Lateral connecting members 1719 and 1717 are integrally formedon that axial end region of the wall elements 1726, 1728, respectively,which is on the left in FIG. 14. The connecting member 1719 has, by wayof example, a bearing shaft 1732 for the rotatable mounting of the covermember 1740. In the illustration, a latching stud 1734 for thereleasable latching of the cover member 1740 is provided on theconnecting member 1717.

The cover member 1740 is designed, by way of example, in the manner of acuboidal hood, with an upper wall element 1748 and side walls 1741,1743, which are connected to each other via a terminating wall 1789. Thesides 1747 and 1788 opposite the upper wall element 1748 and theterminating wall 1789, respectively, are open. In the illustration,those end regions 1749 of the side walls 1741, 1743 which face the openside 1788 are shaped concavely. According to an embodiment, the covermember 1740 is designed for fixing the adapter element 1750 to thefastening member 1730.

The adapter element 1750 is designed, by way of example, as a hollow orU profile with a top element 1715, on which two lateral wall elements1752, 1754 are integrally formed. The top element 1715 is formed atleast with a longitudinal groove 1753, but, like the adapter element 750from FIG. 7, may also be provided with a transverse groove (751 in FIG.7). The wall elements 1752, 1754 preferably have circular openings 1755and 1756, respectively.

Lateral stop elements 1751 and 1758 (FIGS. 18 to 20) are formed on theaxial end regions of the wall elements 1752, 1754, respectively, whichare on the right in FIG. 14. On the axial end regions 1759 thereof whichare on the left in FIG. 14, the wall elements 1752, 1754, according toan embodiment, are shaped convexly in such a manner that said endregions 1759 and the end regions 1749 of the side walls 1741, 1743 ofthe cover member 1740 intermesh in a form-fitting manner. Furthermore,the end regions 1759 of the wall elements 1752, 1754 protrude relativeto an end region 1757 of the top element 1715 such that, followinginstallation, a clearance (1888 in FIG. 18) is formed between the topelement 1715 and the upper wall element 1748 of the cover member 1740.

FIG. 15 shows the wiper blade detail from FIG. 14 during theinstallation of the connecting member 1900 on the adapter unit 1500,which is permanently connected to the base connecting device 160. Inthis case, the fastening member 1730 is first of all pushed onto theadapter unit 1500, in order to fasten said components to one another,wherein the bearing member 1798 is arranged and fixed in the pocket-likebearing receptacle 1599 (FIG. 14). By means of the configuration of thebearing element 1598 that is shown in FIG. 14, lateral slipping of thefastening member 1730 can be prevented.

In a next step, the cover member 1740 can be fastened rotatably to thefastening member 1730, preferably via a snap-in connection, as describedby way of example below for FIG. 16. The adapter element 1750 can thenbe pushed onto the fastening member 1730, as described by way of examplebelow for FIG. 18.

FIG. 16 shows an arrangement 1600, in which, by way of example, thewiper arm 1118, representing the wiper arm 118 from FIG. 1, of the“Valeo Top-Lock2” wiper arm type from FIG. 11 is attached to thefastening member 1730, which is connected to the cover member 1740.According to an embodiment, the cover member 1740 has claw-like fixingelements 1745 which can preferably be latched by means of a snap-inconnection to the bearing shaft 1732 of the fastening member 1730 insuch a manner that the cover member 1740 can be rotated about thebearing shaft 1732, wherein the axis of rotation defined by the bearingshaft 1732 lies approximately parallel to the axial extent of the wiperstrip 112.

As FIG. 16 shows clearly, the wiper arm 1118 is first of all pushed inthe direction of arrows 1651 or 1652 and 1654 onto the fastening member1730 until the lateral blocking members 1733, 1793 thereof block theretaining shoulders 1116 (FIG. 11), 1117 of the wiper arm 1118 andtherefore prevent further displacement of the wiper arm 1118 in thedirection of the arrows 1652, 1654. Then, in order to produce a snap-inconnection, the cover member 1740 is rotated in the direction of anarrow 1699 toward the fastening member 1730 such that the latching stud1734 engages in an opening 1742, which is provided in the side wall1743, in order to latch releasably there. A form-fitting connectionbetween the concave end regions 1749 of the side walls 1741, 1743 of thecover member 1740 and corresponding end regions 1115 of the wiper arm1118 is preferably produced in the process, thus preventing the wiperarm 1118 from slipping out in the opposite direction to the arrows 1652,1654.

FIG. 17 shows an arrangement 1700, in which, by way of example, thewiper arm 1018, representing the wiper arm 118 from FIG. 1, of the“Top-Lock2” wiper arm type from FIG. 10 is attached to the fasteningmember 730, which is connected to the cover member 740. For thispurpose, the wiper arm 1018 is pushed in the direction of arrows 1712,1714 onto the fastening member 1730 until the lateral blocking elements1785 (FIG. 14), 1786 thereof block the retaining rails 1022, 1024 of thewiper arm 1018 and therefore prevent further displacement of the wiperarm 1018 in the direction of the arrows 1712, 1714. Then, as describedfor FIG. 16, the cover member 1740 is rotated in the direction of anarrow 1799 toward the fastening member 1730 in order to latch there. Aform-fitting connection between the concave end regions 1749 of the sidewalls 1741, 1743 of the cover member 1740 and correspondingly convexlyshaped end regions 1012 of the wiper arm 1018 is preferably produced inthe process, thus preventing the wiper arm 1018 from slipping out in adirection opposite to the arrows 1712, 1714.

FIG. 18 shows an arrangement 1800, in which, by way of example, a wiperarm 1818, representing the wiper arm 118 from FIG. 1, of the “ValeoTop-Lock3” wiper arm type is attached to the fastening member 1730,which is connected to the cover member 1740. The wiper arm 1818 has, byway of example, a longitudinal element 1816 with a positioning opening1827 and a bent or angled end piece 1815. FIG. 18 shows clearly aclearance 1888 formed between the end region 1757 of the top element1715 and cover member 1740.

As FIG. 18 shows, the wiper arm 1818 is first of all positioned on thefastening member 1730 and the cover member 1740 such that the end piece1815 is arranged in the region of the connecting members 1717, 1719 andthe positioning pin or knob 1727 of the fastening member 1730 at leastpartially engages in the positioning opening 1827 in the wiper arm 1818.The adapter element 1750 is then pushed in the direction of arrows 1852,1854 over the wiper arm 1818 onto the fastening member 1730 until thelateral blocking members 1733, 1793 thereof block the lateral stopelements 1758 and 1751, respectively, (FIG. 14) of the adapter element1750 and therefore prevent further displacement of the adapter element1750 in the direction of the arrows 1852, 1854. The adapter element 1750therefore engages around at least part of the fastening member 1730 inthe manner of a cap.

Then, as described for FIG. 16, the cover member 1740 is rotated in thedirection of an arrow 1899 toward the fastening member 1730 in order tolatch there. A form-fitting connection between the concave end regions1749 of the side walls 1741, 1743 of the cover member 1740 and the endregions 1759 of the adapter element 1750 is preferably produced in theprocess, thus preventing the wiper arm 1818 from slipping out in thedirection opposite to the arrows 1852, 1854.

FIG. 19 shows an arrangement 1950, in which, by way of example, thewiper arm 1318, representing the wiper arm 118 from FIG. 1, of the “9×3hook” or “9×4 hook” wiper arm type from FIG. 13 is attached to thefastening member 1730, which is connected to the cover member 1740 andto which the adapter element 1750 is fastened, as described for FIG. 18.For the fastening to the connecting member 1900, the wiper arm 1318 ispositioned on the latter, in a similar manner as described for FIG. 13,in such a manner that the elongate connecting component 1316 is arrangedin the longitudinal groove 1753, and the hook 1312 engages under thesupport part 1515 into the tower-like guide and positioning member 1510from FIG. 14 such that the curved element 1314 bears against the endregion 1757 of the top element 1715 from FIG. 14.

Then, as described for FIG. 16, the cover member 1740 is rotated in thedirection of an arrow 1999 toward the fastening member 1730 in order tolatch there. The curved element 1314 is therefore blocked in theclearance 1888, thus preventing the wiper arm 1318 from slipping out ofthe connecting member 1900.

FIG. 20 shows an arrangement 2000, in which, by way of example, thewiper arm 1218, representing the wiper arm 118 from FIG. 1, of the“Side-Lock1” wiper arm type from FIG. 12 is attached to the fasteningmember 1730, which is connected to the cover member 1740 and to whichthe adapter element 1750 is fastened, as described for FIG. 18.

In the illustration, the wiper arm 1218 is pushed in the direction of anarrow 2051 onto the connecting member 1900 in such a manner that therotary shaft 1212 is passed through the openings 1756, 1755 (FIG. 14) inthe respective adapter element 1750 and 1738, 1736 (FIG. 15) of thefastening member 1730. In the process, the retaining bracket 1214 ispositioned over the adapter element 1750 in FIG. 20.

The wiper arm 1218 is then rotated in the direction of an arrow 2099toward the connecting member 1900 such that the retaining hook 1244provided on the retaining bracket 1214 reaches—in FIG. 20—in front ofthe lateral wall element 1754 of the adapter holder 1750 while the wiperarm 1218 bears against the lateral wall element 1752, thus preventingthe rotary shaft 1212 from slipping out of the connecting member 1900.

1. A wiper blade (100) for a window wiper, with a wiper strip (112) andan adapter unit (1500) for attachment of the wiper strip (112) to awiper arm (1018, 1118, 1218, 1318, 1818), wherein the adapter unit(1500) is designed for connection to a connecting member (1900) assignedto the wiper arm (1018, 1118, 1218, 1318, 1818), characterized in thatthe connecting member (1900) has a base element (1730) and an adapterelement (1750), the base element (1730) being configured for attachmentof the wiper strip (112) to a first multiplicity of different wiper armtypes (1018, 1118, 1818) and being connectable to the adapter element(1750) in order to permit attachment of the wiper strip (112) to asecond multiplicity of different wiper arm types (1218, 1318, 1818)which at least partially differ from the wiper arm types of the firstmultiplicity of wiper arm types (1018, 1118, 1818).
 2. The wiper bladeas claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the adapter element (1750)is configured to surround at least part of the base element (1730) inthe manner of a cap.
 3. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the connecting member (1900) has a cover member(1740) with which the adapter element (1750) can be fixed on the baseelement (1730).
 4. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 3, characterizedin that the cover member (1740) is configured for fixing a plurality ofdifferent wiper arm types (1018, 1118, 1318, 1818) to the connectingmember (1900).
 5. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 3, characterizedin that the cover member (1740) is configured to be mounted rotatably onthe base element (1730).
 6. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 3,characterized in that the cover member (1740) is configured to belatched to the base element (1730).
 7. The wiper blade as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the adapter unit (1500) has a bearingelement (1598) on which the connecting member (1900) is configured to bemounted.
 8. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 7, characterized in thatthe connecting member (1900) has positioning aids (1722) for positioningon the bearing element (1598).
 9. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the adapter unit (1500) has a guide andpositioning member (1510) for aligning the connecting member (1900) onthe adapter unit (1500).
 10. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 9,characterized in that the guide and positioning member (1510) isconfigured in the manner of a tower, and the connecting member (1900)has an aperture (1710) for the passage of the tower-like guide andpositioning member (1510).
 11. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the adapter unit (1500) is configured to befastened permanently to a base connecting device (160) provided on thewiper strip (112).
 12. A connecting member (1900) for attachment of awiper arm (1018, 1118, 1218, 1318, 1818) to a wiper blade (100) for awindow wiper, wherein the wiper blade (100) has a wiper strip (112) andan adapter unit (1500) for connection of the wiper strip (112) to theconnecting member (1900), characterized in that the connecting member(1900) has a base element (1730) and an adapter element (1750), the baseelement (1730) being configured for attachment of the wiper strip (112)to a first multiplicity of different wiper arm types (1018, 1118, 1818)and being connectable to the adapter element (1750) in order to permitattachment of the wiper strip (112) to a second multiplicity ofdifferent wiper arm types (1218, 1318, 1818) which at least partiallydiffer from the wiper arm types of the first multiplicity of wiper armtypes (1018, 1118, 1818).